Power-shaft connection for internal-combustion engines



Dec. 16, 1930. J. v. MAURAIS 1,784,902

POWER SHAFT CONNECTIQN FOR INTERNAL COMBUS I'ION ENGINES Filed Oct. 22,1929 2 Sheets-Shee\ l I n venfmf A ttor'neg Dec. 16, 1930. I v MAURAls1,784,902

POWER SHAFT CONNECTION F OR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINES Filed Oct. 22,1929 2 Sheets-Shae! 2 Inventor QzW',

A ttorney Patented Dec. 16, 1930 I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE JOSEPH v.MAUBAIS, or inUscA'rINE, IowA POWER-SHAFT connno'rron nonINTERNAL-COMBUSTION nnemns Application filed October 22, i929. SerialNo. 401,587.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and isparticularly adaptable-to the connecting means that transmits power fromthe piston to the crankshaft.

5 An object of the invention is to provide for using a straight crankshaft for an internal combustion engine, and furthermore,

to arrange the power arm connection'so that power will be exerted at alltimes in a direction substantiallyperpendicular or at a slight cient inits operation and comparatively in? expensive'to manufacture andinstall.a

With the foregoing and otherobjects in view, the invention consists inthe novel con struction, combination and arrangement" of parts as willbe hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is disclosed an embodiment of theinvention, but] it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit'of theclaims hereto appended. V

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical section in detail through a piston illustratingan adaptation therewith of the device in accordance with the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a. sectional view through the piston illustrating in endelevation an application of the present. invention therewith.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary portion in detailedcross section of thecrankshaft with the cam arranged thereon.

Figure 4 is a top' plan view of a-fragmentary portion of the internalcombustion engine and the guide arm in accordance with the presentinvention.

1 In utilizing the connection of the present invention, it is to beunderstood that the internal combustion engine explodes every rev-,

olution and consequently the valves-will have tobe arranged to providefor firing the engine onevery revolution. 1

It will also be understood that smaller pistons 'anclshorter strokes ofthe pistons are provided for, thereby, utilizing all the power oftheexplosion. i

Referring to thed-rawings in detail, 5 indi:

cates a straight powershaft which is jour- ,nalled for rotation in anyconventional manner in the crankcase'of an external combustion engine,(not shown in the drawings).

A cam-6 of substantially elliptical configuration is provided at itscenter with an out setsleeve 7through which the shaft 5extends. Forrigidly securing the cam 6 to, the shaft, sleeve 7 is provided with athreaded opening 8 in which is threadably supported aset screw 9, theinner end of which is adapteclto be seated in arecess 10 inthe shaft .5

' provided forthat purpose.

The peripheraledge 11 of the cam 6 is of flat. contour to provide anouter track, The

outer track 11 is elliptical in shape, and at the opposite ends, oralong the major axis of the ellipse isconsiderably sharpenedas will bebe, clearly seen from Figure 1 of thedrawings. One face of the cam 6 isprovided with r a recess 12 having an outstanding wall 13 about theperimeter thereof to provide an inner track thereabout. In configurationthe inner track 13 is of substantially the same elliptical shape as theouter track 11, but at the opposite ends thereof the walls are curved toa greater radius than the ends of the outer track aswill be clearlyunderstood by referring toFigure 1 of the drawings.

A piston of conventional form for internal combustion engines isindicated at 14 and has v the pin 28;

upon the arms 32.v

invention and consequently-there will be one piston for eachcylinder. r

A pair of rollers 20, 21 are rotatably mount-H on the respective pins22, 23 that are secured to the lower end of the connecting arm 19. Thepins 22, 23 are arranged inspaced vertical position, one above theother, and

the lower roller 21 rides on the inner track 13 of the cam 6, while theupper roller 20 rides on the outer trackll. The rollers 21 and 20project laterallyon the arm'19.

On the outer free end-of the roller 20 there is an enlarged annularshoulder-'24 that is adapted to overlap one outer corner-ofthe cam 6. Adepending-bracket 25 is secured to a portion of the crankcase 26.Secured to the bracket 25 and extending laterally therefrom, is acylinder projection 27 that mergesat-its free end in a reduced pin 28.

Circumposed about the projection 27 isa helical coiled spring, 29, one"end of which is secured to the casing26 as at 30, whilethe lat erallyproj ecting'end 31'thereof, bears downwardly on the guide arm32.;- Aleaf spring 33 has one endsecured to the casing26 as at 34, while thefree end 35 bears downwardly The guide arm 32 is for the purpose ofcansing the roller 20 to always contact with the outer periphery of thecam'and which coacts with the roller 21's'oas'to provide end thrust atthe bottom of the connecting arrn*19.- I The guide arm 32 merges at itsinner end with an intermediate portion of the connecting arm 19.Theouter end of the arm 32 is provided with a longitudinal slot36 inwhich is seated The slot 36 provides for allowing the guide arm :32 tomove longitudinally duringthe stroke of the" connecting arm 19. 1

. It is'to'be understoodthat by, describing in detail herein anyparticular form, structure or arrangement, it is not intended to limitthe invention beyond the terms of the several claims, or therequirements of the prior art.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new is p 1 1. A powershaft connection comprising in combination, a piston adapted to beoperably associated with a cylinder of an'internal combustion engine, astraight shaft adapted to be horizontally journalled through. theinternal combustion engine, a

cam having an outset track rigidly coupled to the shaft, a connectingarm having one end connected to the piston, a pair ofvertically spacedrollers rotatably coupled to the arm at the lower end thereof, therollers being engageable with the opposite sides of the track, anangularly disposed guide arm merging at its inner end with anintermediate combustion engine, a'straight' shaft adaptedtobehorizontally journaled through the internahcombustion engine, a camhaving an outset trackrigidly coupled t'oz-the shaft, a connecting armhaving one end connected' t0 the piston, a pair of vertically spacedrollers rotatably ,coupledto the arm.- at; theflower end thereof, therollers being engageable with the opposite sides of :theytrack, anangularlydisposed guide arm merging atits inner end with an intermediateportion ofthe con necting arm and providedwith a longitudinal sloton'its outer end, a stationary-bracket, apin rigidly securedto-thebracket and mov ably seated in said slot-, automatic .meanfs bearing onsaid guide armto-take up; playin said-connecting arm, and saidca-m-trackbe: ing elliptical. r v I l 3. Apower shaft connection comprising incombinatioma piston adapted-to-be operably associated with a cylinder ofan internal combustion engine, a straightshaft adapted to behorizontally journalled through the in-' ternal combustion engine, acalm having an outset track rigidly coupled'to theshaft, a connectingarm having one; end connectedto the piston, a pairof vertically spacedrollers rotatably coupled to the arm= at the lower end thereof,therollers being engageable with the opposite; side'sof; the track, anangularly disposed'guide arnrmergingat its inner end with anintermediate portion of; the; connect;

ing arm; andprovidedwith-a longitudinal slot on its outer end, astationarybracket, a

pinrigidly secured to the bracket and inovably seated v in said slot,automatic means bearing on said guide arm to take-upplay insaidconnecting;arm ,;and said cam-track 1 being elliptical, and saidautomatic means consisting'of a-coil spring disposedonlthepi'n and aleaf spring on the .bracket, both of which bear on the guide arm. w

4. 'A power shaft connection comprising in combination, a piston adaptedto be opera tively associated with a' cylinde'r of an'internalcombustion engine, a straight shaft adapted to be horizontallyjournaled'through the 4 internal-combustion engine, a cam fi'xedto saidshaft and having inner and outer tracks thereon, a connecting arm havingone end connected to the piston, a pair of vertically spaced rollersrotatably coupled to the arm at the lower end thereof, the rollers beingengageable With the inner and outer tracks, an angularly disposed guidearm provided on said connecting arm, and means acting upon said guidearm for maintaining one of said rollers in engagement with the exteriorperiphery of said c am upon reciprocation of said piston.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH V/MAURAIS.

